Well, we have another of those harmonic convergences of a holiday and a weekend. In Texas that’s typically a deadly combination on Texas waters. It’s a combination of crowds, partying and “hey bubba, watch this!” moments that congeal to let the blood and tears flow. So, of course, my first advice to fly fishing Texas this weekend is, as Frankie says, “Relax, don’t do it.”

If you just have to do it, I would go for lesser known places, and those that are actually a little more difficult to access. For example, that HOT SPOT I broadcast a few weeks ago is still producing as of last night, and if you want your kids to catch a fish, it will work for that as well – especially if you are just hooking them up with a cork and a shiner, or a wad of stink bait and a sinker. You’ll catch something.

Of course there’s plenty of room on the salt for your fly fishing this weekend, even if the inshore Texas salt is still a bit spooky. There’s no need to hit the northern-to-central salt if you have any kinds of scrapes or cuts on you, unless you’re immune to potential flesh eating viruses. The further south you go, the better off you probably will be.

Belton – Some campgrounds are open but most facilities will not be available this summer.Georgetown – Campgrounds and some day use areas are open but not boat docks.Granger – Most campgrounds and ramps are open but docks and trails are still impacted.Hords Creek – No swimming beaches and one of two parks is under construction and not available.Joe Pool – Check with local park and marina operators.Lavon – Limited campground and day use until August; some ramps open.O.C. Fisher – No ramps but all other facilities open.Proctor – Most facilities not available but some will reopen in August. Water receding very slowly.Sam Rayburn – Campgrounds heavily impacted by high water.Waco – Limited availability of facilities until Labor Day.Wright-Patman – Most facilities open but beaches and some boat ramps not available.

Of course all lakes that are above conservation pool can have very productive releases below them (at the dams), so make sure to tune into that action.

MAKING THE JULY JUMP

This July is a bit of a jumping off point, as I press together as many days as possible to take off and enjoy my favorite month of the year. There will be a lot of road miles, and some reporting along the way, but if I were you, I wouldn’t expect much at all. Please peruse the archives of these past seven years by searching using the search box on the right side of the page. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions you think I could answer. You’re going to have to cut me a little slack this month, but don’t let that backcast sag! I won’t be throwing out any music recommendations for the holiday weekend because I don’t want good music to be attached to anything (personally) not so great — not trying to be cryptic here, but this is going to be a month to mark on my calendar.

Double-Hauling Toward the Future

The Texas Fly Caster motto is EGO EATS BRAIN. And I might add, it's constantly hungry! Texas Fly Caster exists only because of readers demand for showing, not just telling, about how to fly fish in Texas.

I publish true stories, whether it's catching the big one, or catching none. You will find occasional fiction that is blatantly introduced as FICTION - at the top of the article. If you have a great story, I would be glad to read it and publish it here - as long as it meets the same standards for the audience's needs.

I am a professional photographer, writer and fly fishing guide in North Texas, USA. Feel free to click around and read more in depth! I believe you will find the ten years of information here valuable. I know fishermen have a reputation as bald faced liars, but I am a journalist first. Therefore, I cannot tell a lie. The good, bad and ugly - all are covered here where Fly Fishing Culture on the Skids originated.

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